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Boston Breastfeeding Coalition | |
Coalition Social Entrepreneur
Shenell Ford
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“The desire to continue, to be able to provide opportunities for families to advocate for themselves will always be something I will do, and I am humbled to do it.”
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Shenell Ford
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_____ Health City _____
Fathers Who Lost Partners to Pregnancy-Related Deaths Are Dedicating Their Lives to Birth Justice
In honor of Shamony Gibson and Amber Rose Isaac, their survivors spoke at BMC's Vital Village Networks event about Black fatherhood and advocacy.
| Bruce McIntyre III (left) and Omari Maynard (right) speak onstage at the "Aftershock" premiere. | | | |
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Scholars Support Night
February 2023
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Marshmallows & Midwives - Volunteers Needed | Please save the date for Marshmallows and Midwives on Saturday , March 18th from 10-1:30pm --a wonderful opportunity to be in community and share birth stories and support the Neighborhood Birth Center. If you are interested in volunteering for this incredible event, please sign up HERE | | |
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Children's Mental Health Storytimes Schedule | |
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH STORYTIMES LIVE SCHEDULE 2023 | | |
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Thursdays 3:30- 4:00 PM EST
Over Zoom I Adult Required
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The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition
Free Lactation Support
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You are pregnant and curious about breastfeeding? Struggling with breast pain or your newborn’s poor latch? Happily bottle-feeding your growing baby and interested in meeting other parents?
Join the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition’s virtual support groups and baby Cafes or call our tele-health lactation Warmline. We offer professional lactation counselling and support for anyone struggling with the ups and downs of parenting.
These sessions focus on breastfeeding and community support. You can access the link below by using the provided web address or pointing your phone’s camera at the QR code and clicking the resulting link.
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The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition was formed under the umbrella of Boston Medical Centre’s Vital Village Networks in January 2016. The Coalition is working to improve access to breastfeeding support for every caregiver in Boston and promote social connections and optimal child enrichment in early life. | | |
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Community Opportunities/ Events/ Resources | | |
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DRIVE Equity 2023 Scholarship | MBC’s DRIVE Committee is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for our 2023 Equity Scholarship. This scholarship is for the sitting fee for a 2023 IBLCE Exam (either Spring of 2023 IBLCE Exam - fee to be reimbursed, or Fall of 2023 IBLCE Exam - fee to be paid up front). | |
Consistent with one of MBC’s primary goals of increasing diversity in the lactation field, our scholarship process will prioritize BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and individuals from other marginalized groups, but will not exclude anyone. | |
*Must be a Massachusetts Resident to apply. | | |
Scholarship application period runs from 1/16/2023 through 2/28/2023. | | |
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Breastfeeding Provider Survey | The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is committed to improving breastfeeding practices and experiences in the Commonwealth. Over the past year the Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition has been conducting a needs assessment, which will contribute to the development of a statewide strategic breastfeeding plan. As part of our needs assessment, we are conducting a survey of perinatal health care providers and lactation support providers who practice in Massachusetts. We would love to hear from those who provide care and support to the perinatal population, including but not limited to Nurses, Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, Nutritionists, IBCLCs, Doulas, Breastfeeding Counselors, OBGYNs, Family Medicine Providers, Pediatricians, and Neonatologists. The survey, which will be anonymous, will be open from February 7-25, 2023. | Your input is valuable and will help us gain a better understanding of what structures and systems are most successful and where we need to make improvements. The aim is to strengthen access to breastfeeding support for all families in our state. This survey should take around 10 minutes to complete. We sincerely appreciate your time and feedback. Please share widely with your networks. | | |
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Supporting Queer & Trans Parents in their Lactation Goals | Supporting Queer & Trans Parents in their Lactation Goals | Featuring Licensed Midwife, Liam Kali (they/them) | Lactation and chest/breastfeeding are intensely embodied experiences that are deeply impacted by one’s gender identity. This workshop will explore the impact of queer and trans identity on lactation experiences and goals, including lactation induction in any body, chest feeding after masculinization surgery, and co-nursing. | Thursday, February 16, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM PST | | |
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Reproductive Justice and Health Equity - A Panel Discussion | |
Feb 28, 2023 10:00 AM
in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
| Please join us for an important discussion with leaders in Reproductive Justice and Healthcare who are tackling racial health disparities both locally and nationally and creating models to support health equity. | |
Nashira Baril (Neighborhood Birth Center), Lilly Marcelin (Resilient Sisterhood Project), and Marisa Pizii (Collective Power for Reproductive Justice).
The conversation will be facilitated by Natanja Craig-Oquendo (Boston Women’s Fund).
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Discussion will include how historical trauma reverberates across generations and public health strategies that advance justice and equity. Panelists will discuss ways in which funders can engage in this critical work. | | | |
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Perinatal Mood Disorder Training |
Sponsored by-
The Cape & Islands Maternal Depression Task Force
| Please join us for a free virtual training on- |
March 7, 2023
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
| The training is for doulas, Lactation Care Providers, Baby Nurses, Support Group Facilitators and any professional who engages with new mothers. Our facilitator for this training will be Ann Smith, former president of ostpartum Support International. | Ann Smith is a Registered Nurse, Certified Nurse Midwife and Women's Heath Nurse Practitioner. she graduated from Cornell University School of Nursing with BSN and Columbia University with a MSN specializing in Midwifery. She served on the board of Postpartum Support International (PSI) and was the former president from 2014-2020. She is currently on PSI's Advisory Council, works as a consultant and serves as Vice Chair at Fairwinds-Nantucket's Counseling Center. | The training will include: | - Learning about the temporary and treatable nature of Perinatal Mood Disorders aka., PMAD's and how to educate and discuss with moms
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- The types of PMAD's and how they may present.
- Assessment for Perinatal Mood Disorders.
- The difference between intrusive thoughts vs psychosis
| - how to talk to moms about finding support when PMAD's are detected
| - education on medication management and ways to offer insight for safe options
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- How to manage a crisis situation?
- Local resources for non-crisis and crisis situations
- Q & A
| To register please email Kerry Maccarthy, Coordinator for the Mental Depression Task Force of the Cape and Islands at Kerry.maccarthy.miller@gmail.com | | |
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Breastfeeding Foundations for
Perinatal Health Workers
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Join Us for 2 Sessions
INTERACTIVE ONLINE TRAINING!
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Instructors:
Jenny Weaver, RN,IBCLC
Dominique Bellegarde, CLC, CLE
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Friday, March 31, 2023 I Saturday, April 1,2023
8AM - 12PM
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If you work with expectant families or those with new babies this class is for you! Join us and find out what you can do to help parents get off to the best start. | |
CERPs and CEUs pending
Class size is limited
| The Boston Association for Childbirth Education and Nursing Mothers' Council | | | |
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6th Annual Black Maternal Health Conference | |
BMMA is thrilled to reveal the official theme for Black Maternal Health Week 2023 (#BMHW23): | | |
Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy! | Held annually on April 11-17th, BMHW is a week-long campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. The activities and conversations hosted throughout the week intentionally center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements. | To become a #BMHW23 sponsor or vendor please CLICK HERE to complete the interest form. | | | |
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National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening | |
The USBC is hosting its first in-person conference since 2019 this June in Bethesda, Maryland! Join us June 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda for the National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening, where we will come together to learn and connect. The theme this year is Expanding Connections and Partnering for Progress. |
The main conference days are
Friday, June 9 & Saturday June 10
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Black Women and Resilience: Power, Perseverance, and Public Health | The aim of Black Women and Resilience: Power, Perseverance, and Public Health is to help nurture community exchange of ideas between scholars by providing an infusion of qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine resilience at the nexus of Black women and public health. | | |
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U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Black History Month Resources: | |
As we celebrate Black History Month, we pay tribute to the struggles and achievements of the people and events that have shaped our nation. Join the USBC in recognizing the histories and continuing invaluable contributions of Black people in the United States.
By working together to raise awareness about Black maternal, infant, and child health, and bringing to light community priorities, strengths, and assets, we can all share and utilize resources, and actively engage in collaborative efforts to advance health equity.
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Advocacy : New bill
"Promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth" is available at the following link.
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Take Action
Restore access to midwifery in Massachusetts now!
| If you want to take action in support of this legislation, you can send a quick email to your legislators using our action tool. | | |
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PureSpark was born out of Founder Nieisha Deed's passion to help others. Through this organization, she strives to bring hope to those who find themselves in a dark place. PureSpark seeks to cultivate the kind of mental wellness culture Nieisha craved when she was severely depressed and suicidal. PureSpark uses social media and our web interface to provide resources and daily coping mechanisms that would otherwise be out of reach for someone who is unfamiliar with the mental wellness system. While open to providing information for everyone, the organization’s focus is on Black women. Mental illness is often stigmatized in the black community, and it is common for black women to put themselves, as well as their mental wellness, last in order to help others. | | |
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Lactation Education Credits | |
Need Lactation Education Credits?
Lactation College Can Help
| We provide online CERPs, CEUs, and CMEs with each of our courses. | | |
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USBC Peer Learning for Coalitions: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Strategies in the First Food Field
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USBC Peer Learning for Coalitions: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Strategies in the First Food Field
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Collaborative learning formats bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and challenges to light, making it possible for leaders to consider other approaches and viewpoints. During this peer learning session, you’ll be paired with one or two other individuals to share and receive feedback on the policy, system, and environmental change work that your organization is involved in and the collaborative efforts you are leading or contributing to, to advance PSE strategies that support breastfeeding and human milk feeding.
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The goals of this activity are to: | |
1 Foster a continuous learning culture that, in turn, fosters creativity and innovation | |  |
2 Motivate organizations toward action | | | |
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Boston Healthy Start Breastfeeding Empowerment Campaign Intern | Boston Healthy Start is seeking a paid intern to support the planning and implementation of a Breastfeeding Empowerment Zone Campaign in the City of Boston. | |
Help expand access to breastfeeding support in your
neighborhood or workplace!
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Vital Village Network's Boston Breastfeeding Coalition is committed to improving access to breastfeeding support for every parent in Boston, promoting connections between individuals and organizations that engage in breastfeeding advocacy, and supporting pathways for professional lactation counselors. | | | | |
